How I Passed NCLEX-RN

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Specializes in Psych.

I recently took the NCLEX-RN and passed and I figured I would share my study plan. First off I graduated May of this year. In March I went to Barnes and Noble (membership discount) and bought the Davis Q&A for NCLEX-RN by Ohman and NCLEX-RN Vocabulary and Medications Flashcards by REA. Davis was recommended to me by a previous nursing graduate. In March I began reviewing the Davis book in between tests and clinicals. This book does not have a content review it is purely questions. The unique thing is the layout of the book. In the beginning it explains the nclex and has a section for new and repeat test takers. It goes through what to expect and common things that must be memorized (labs and how to recognize certain meds by their ending). Once the questions begin each page is split down the middle. On the left is the question and you are given a bookmark to cover the right side of the page containing the answers. After each question you can slide the bookmark down and see the answers (I think it is far superior to doing each question one at a time and review the answers rather than going back after completing a full section). It will say the answer and explain why it is correct it will also tell why the other answers are incorrect. Below this there is also a tip for answering that type of question which I found very helpful.

Ok back to the studying. I studied on and off throughout March-May. Our program required us to do a review which I found utterly useless. It was completely content and far to in depth to complete in a month. Unfortunately it was mandatory so I took a break from Davis to complete it. I can honestly say it didn't help me at all. I graduated on May 5th (thursday) and took off from studying until the next tuesday. I then began doing questions in Davis each day and supplemented by using the flashcards by the pool. I never did a specific amount and I quit once I got tired. I had scheduled my test for June 11th therefore I knew I had a full month to review. Up until two weeks before the exam I would study when I wanted to and never stressed myself out. Unfortunately I had a death in the family two weeks before and lost almost 5 days of studying. The week before the exam I still had approx 1000 questions and two end tests to complete. I was in go mode and figured out how many questions to complete to finish 2 days before the exam. I was testing on Saturday and by Thursday I had completed Davis and did the last two comprehensive tests. I scored a 68% and 73%. From wed-fri I studied the infection control mnemonics on this site and my list of lab values I had been studying on and off. The day before the exam I had to work which was a god send because I wasn't able to freak out about the exam. On Saturday morning I got up, looked over infxn control mnemonics, lab values, and some mnemonics for depression meds. I was in and out in 50 minutes and it stopped at 75 questions. I expected super scary questions but I felt like it was another Davis test. I had no calculations, 1 lab value, a few SATA and a few prioritization. 1.5 hrs later I got the good pop up and today I got my unofficial result of pass :) I truly hope this helps someone. I found very little on here about the Davis book but I found it to be amazing!!! We took the 2007 and (I believe) 2010 ATI predictor. We were used as guinea pigs for the newer one. I scored a 95% and 98% on those. Woohoo for being done with that mess. Onto the job hunt :nurse:

When I felt stressed I would always quote Jimmy Buffett - "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On". Right before the exam started I put in my ear plugs (highly suggested) and took a deep breath!

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Thank you so much for the tips!! I just took the nclex-rn and found out I failed :( I too had to do ATI and I feel as if I studied ALLL that stuff and was tested on so little of it and wasted all that time when I could of been reading NCLEX review books and practice questions!

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Specializes in Psych.
Thank you so much for the tips!! I just took the nclex-rn and found out I failed :( I too had to do ATI and I feel as if I studied ALLL that stuff and was tested on so little of it and wasted all that time when I could of been reading NCLEX review books and practice questions!

I appreciate what ATI did during school but it just isn't the same as the NCLEX. Good luck and study hard. You can do it :)

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho, Acute Care Rehab.
I recently took the NCLEX-RN and passed and I figured I would share my study plan. First off I graduated May of this year. In March I went to Barnes and Noble (membership discount) and bought the Davis Q&A for NCLEX-RN by Ohman and NCLEX-RN Vocabulary and Medications Flashcards by REA. Davis was recommended to me by a previous nursing graduate. In March I began reviewing the Davis book in between tests and clinicals. This book does not have a content review it is purely questions. The unique thing is the layout of the book. In the beginning it explains the nclex and has a section for new and repeat test takers. It goes through what to expect and common things that must be memorized (labs and how to recognize certain meds by their ending). Once the questions begin each page is split down the middle. On the left is the question and you are given a bookmark to cover the right side of the page containing the answers. After each question you can slide the bookmark down and see the answers (I think it is far superior to doing each question one at a time and review the answers rather than going back after completing a full section). It will say the answer and explain why it is correct it will also tell why the other answers are incorrect. Below this there is also a tip for answering that type of question which I found very helpful.

Ok back to the studying. I studied on and off throughout March-May. Our program required us to do a review which I found utterly useless. It was completely content and far to in depth to complete in a month. Unfortunately it was mandatory so I took a break from Davis to complete it. I can honestly say it didn't help me at all. I graduated on May 5th (thursday) and took off from studying until the next tuesday. I then began doing questions in Davis each day and supplemented by using the flashcards by the pool. I never did a specific amount and I quit once I got tired. I had scheduled my test for June 11th therefore I knew I had a full month to review. Up until two weeks before the exam I would study when I wanted to and never stressed myself out. Unfortunately I had a death in the family two weeks before and lost almost 5 days of studying. The week before the exam I still had approx 1000 questions and two end tests to complete. I was in go mode and figured out how many questions to complete to finish 2 days before the exam. I was testing on Saturday and by Thursday I had completed Davis and did the last two comprehensive tests. I scored a 68% and 73%. From wed-fri I studied the infection control mnemonics on this site and my list of lab values I had been studying on and off. The day before the exam I had to work which was a god send because I wasn't able to freak out about the exam. On Saturday morning I got up, looked over infxn control mnemonics, lab values, and some mnemonics for depression meds. I was in and out in 50 minutes and it stopped at 75 questions. I expected super scary questions but I felt like it was another Davis test. I had no calculations, 1 lab value, a few SATA and a few prioritization. 1.5 hrs later I got the good pop up and today I got my unofficial result of pass :) I truly hope this helps someone. I found very little on here about the Davis book but I found it to be amazing!!! We took the 2007 and (I believe) 2010 ATI predictor. We were used as guinea pigs for the newer one. I scored a 95% and 98% on those. Woohoo for being done with that mess. Onto the job hunt :nurse:

When I felt stressed I would always quote Jimmy Buffett - "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On". Right before the exam started I put in my ear plugs (highly suggested) and took a deep breath!

Thank you for sharing your experience and congratulations to you RN...:)

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Congrats!!!

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Specializes in Psych.

Thank you so much ChrissybRN :)

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:ancong!: and thanks for sharing! :)

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wow congrats!!!!! so helpful and amazing job! thanks for the tips!

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hey i was wondering if you can tell me the ISBN number of the book you have i think i have it too, wondering you just studied the whole book? so basically you did 5,000 questions, ugh man i do like this book, i feel that i did hurst review and i didn't get anything out of just reviewing content that i already learned. any input would help me

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